Mechanism control



June l5, 1965 N. N. FENDER 3,188,883

MECHANISM CONTROL Filed Dec. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.-NMMAN Af. FENDER.

June l5, 1965 N. N. FENDER 3,188,883

MECHANISM CONTROL F'fgd Dc. 19, 19'6'2 2 shams-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.'

NURMAN N. FENBER.

BY @Mgg-W United States Patent O 3,188,883 MECHANISM CONTROL Norman N.Fender, Erie, Mich., assignor to Universal American Corporation, NewYork, N.Y., a corporation oi Delaware Filed Dec. 19, 1962, Ser. No.245,782 13 Claims. (Cl. 74-534) This invention relates to mechanismcontrol and more particularly to means or mechanism for actuating orcontrolling the parking or emergency brakes of a vehicle.

Heretofore various types of both hand-operated and foot-operated devicesor mechanisms have been developed and utilized for actuating andcontrolling the parking brakes of an automotive vehicle. While manytypes of hand-operated devices have been utilized extensively forsetting the parking or emergency brakes of a vehicle, the trend inautomotive vehicle development towardl a lower vehicle body silhouette,the increased use of the space between the dashboard or firewall and theinstrument panel, the increase in brake pressures requiring greaterforce to actuate the vehicle brake mechanism have been instrumental infurthering the use of foot actuated means or pedal levers forcontrolling the parking brakes of a vehicle.

It is essential to employ positive acting means for holding theemergency or parking brakes in brake-setting positions and, hence,various types of foot-operated lever mechanisms have embodied a pawlmeans arranged for cooperation with a toothed sector or rack for thepurpose. In such devices it is desirable that the arrangement, forholding the pawl and ratchet member in brakesetting position, beprovided with means whereby the pawl and rack member are disengaged inorder to release the brakes and avoid liability for these components tobe prematurely reengaged before the brake actuating lever has beenreturned to its brake release position. Otherwise, if there is prematurereengagement of the pawl and ratchet mechanism, the teeth of the rackmay be ydamaged and, furthermore, the brake may not be fully returned toa release position.

Mechanisms of this character have been developed wherein the ratchetsector or rack is pivotally supported so that it may be swung out of thepath of a retaining pawl, and the patent to Hinsey No. 2,978,926 isdirected to an arrangement of this character wherein a manually operateddrawbar normally holds the ratchet sector in operative position forengagement by the pawl but which is movable away from the pawl torelease the brakes. With the increase in braking forces, the pressure ofthe rpawl acting against the teeth of the sector is substantial andhence the means normally holding the ratchet sector in pawl-engagingposition is subjected to increased forces which must be overcome inreleasing the mechanism.

Furthermore, in an arrangement of this character, substantial movementof Ia release means must be had in order to eifectively release theratchet member from engagement with the pawl.

The present invention embraces a foot-operated lever arrangement adaptedto be connected with the vehicle parking or emergency brakes wherein thelever arrangement embodies a pawl means and toothed sector means forretaining the lever arrangement in brake-setting positions and whereinone of said means is held in a position for cooperation with the otherof said means by a plurality of abutments arrangements to be moved bythe vehicle operator to effect a disengagement of the pawl and sectormeans.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a foot-operatedlever arrangement for actuating and con- Mice trolling parking oremergency brakes of a vehicle embodying a pawl and toothed sector meansfor retaining the lever .arrangement in brake-setting positions whereinthe toothed sector is articulately supported and adapted to be held in aposition to be engaged by the pawl through the medium of multiple armsfashioned with cam surfaces for engagement with the sector means whereinthe arms are arranged to be moved simultaneously to positions to effecta release of the sector means from engagement with the pawl to releasethe brake mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a foot-operatedlever arrangement 0f this character adapted t-o be connected with thevehicle parking brake mechanism and embodying a pawl and toothed sectormeans normally held in a position for interengagement for holding thelever arrangement in brake-setting positions and wherein one of saidmeans is releasable to a position for releasing the brake mechanism bymultiple cams which are reliable in their operation and which minimizethe liability of damage to the teeth of the sector or the pawl.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the relatedelements of the structure, to various details of construction and tocombinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufactureand numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may bepreferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a portion of an operators compartmentof a vehicle, certain parts being broken away, illustrating a form ofmechanism control of my invention installed in a vehicle;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational View of the upper portion ofthe brake actuating and control mechanism of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially onthe line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating the actuating andcontrol mechanism of the invention in brake-setting position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating the actuating andcontrol mechanism in a brake release position;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7of FIGURE 5, and

FIGURE 8 is an isometric view of the cam elements forming components ofthe invention.

While the form of the mechanism control of the invention illustrated isparticularly adapted for installation in `antomotive vehicles andutilized for actuating or controlling the emergency or parking brakes ofa vehicle, it is to be understood that the arrangement of the inventionmay be utilized for controlling or actuating other forms of mechanismwherever the same may be found to have utility.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 illustrates theinstallation of a form of the invention in the vehicle operatorscompartment of ,a vehicle. The portion of the vehicle illustrated isinclusive of a cowl section 10, a windshield 11, a dashboard or firewall12, a toeboard 14, an instrument panel 16, a service brake actuatingpedal 18 and a steering Wheel 20. The chassis portion of the vehicleshown in FIGURE 1 includes a frame construction 22 comprising a pair ofparallel side frame members 24, one of which is shown in FIGURE l, whichare joined by transverse cross members (not shown).

Secured to the frame v.members v24Y are brackets n26 Y journallysupporting a cross shaft 27. The service brake f pedal 18 may bejournally supported upon the shaft 27 at its distal end with a pin 33'extending into a slot 34 formed in a member or link 35.. A contractilespring 36 is connected at one end Ywith the bar 35, -the other end ofthe spring being connected with an anchor member V8'! secured to a sideframe, member 24; The Vspring 36, in conjunction with the conventionalbrake returny springsv (not shown), function to normally'bias the link35 in a Yright-hand direction, as viewed in FIGURE l, toward brakerelease position.

Connected to the link 35 isavflexible -cable"40 whichl is enclosed orencased within 'a tubular sheath 42,`theY lower end of the sheath beingsecuredV to a frame member 24 by a clamp 43. The upper end of the sheathis secured to the firewall 172 by VmeansV of a clamp 44.

Mounted within the operators compartment is a sup-k port or bracketconstruction r46 formed of sheetv metal components including a mainplate or bracket 48 anda supplemental bracket 50.v The brackets orplates 48 and 58 have contiguousportions which are joined at a region orplane 52 by spotlwelding or other securing means.

aligned openings accommodating a pin or rivet 90, the rivetV or pinpassing through an opening in the support member 48V wherebylthe ratchetconstruction 84 is pivotally or articulately mounted on the support 46.Each of the plates 88 is fashioned with a series of matching ratchetteeth 92 and with a projection 94.

In the operation of the sector construction, the plates or components 88thereof move as .a unit. As shown in FIGURE 3 each of the plates maybefashioned with a projection 96 formed by impressing a socket 98 in theplate whereby the adjacent projection on one plate nests 1n a socket inthe adjacent plate so that the plates move Y together.y

While the plates 88 of the ratchet construction would be operablewithout the interconnecting projections 98,'

itis preferable that Vthe plates 88 beV interlocked in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 3 or otherwisek fashioned so as to move together.v

VThe Vpawlconstruction 86' is preferably formed of a pair of plates 100of'identical configuration, the pawl plates being pivotally mounted upona rivet or stub shaft One end of the plate 48 of the bracketconstruction n 46 is provided with oppositely extending ear portions 54secured to the firewall 12 by means of ,bolts 55.' The` other end ofthefbracket 48 and the bracket 50 are respectively provided with angesor lprojections 56`andl 58 secured to aange portion 59 of the instrumentpanel 16 by means of boltsl 60 extending through slots 61 formed in theprojections 56 and 58. The bracket construction 46 provides Va supportfor the foot-operated Y brake actuating lever construction 62and a meansfor retaining the parking brakes in adjustedor brake-setting positionsand a release means forthe retaining means.

The main lever construction 62 is pivotallyY mounted or fulcrumed on thesupport 46 by means vof a pin or shaft 64. The lever construction 62vispreferably formed 66 and 68, -the1lower portions ofwhich lare ofchannelshaped configuration in cross-section, the inwardlyextendingflange portionsy 69 and 70of the sections respectively engaging at ajuncture region 771, shown in FIGURE 3, and the). flanges buttwelded'togethe'r..v The lower end of the lever construction 62is'provided with a metal foot pad portion 72 preferably faced or coveredwith a pad 73 of rubber or other suitable material.

The lever construction 62 is fashioned with a forwardly projecting armor portion 74, the extremities of which are fashioned with contiguoustab` or pad portions 76 spot welded together as indicated at 77. Theportions of the lever` providing th'ef extension 74 are formed withopenings to accommodate a `rivet or pin 80 for'connecting a clevis 82with the lever construction 62, the

clevis being secured to the upper end of the brakel cable v Vof sheetmetal ofV two similarly shaped matingsections 182 .carried by theportion 74 of the Vlever 62, the pawl construction being disposedybetween the side walls of the lever construction as shown in FIGURE 6,and arranged for engagement withthe teeth 92 of the ratchet member orconstruction 84. Thepawl construction 86 is biased by a spring 166 toengage the pawl tooth 108 with the ratchet teeth 92.v

The .pawl construction 86 is provided with a flange or projectingportion 188 which is adapted for engagement with an upper edge region189 of the projection portion 74. of thev lever .62 in order to limitpivotal movement of the pawl 86 in a counterclockwise vdirection for apurpose to be'hereinafter explained. An end region 107 of spring 106engages the projecting portion 108 of the pawl and the other end of thespring is hooked over the edge'of one of the' side vwalls of the lever.While the ratchet construction 84 and the pawl Aconstruction 86 are eachformed of two` matching plates, leachy of these constructions may befashioned-as a single element equal to substantially twice the'.lthickness of one` of their components. y Y However, it has been foundpreferable to form the ratchet construction and the pawl construction oftwo mating sections or blanks as the thinner metal may be morev readilyblanked or sheared to desired configuration whereby to form moreaccurately'shaped teeth. As shown particularlyV in FIGURE `6, the sideWalls of the sections of the lever .at a region above the fulcrum arefashioned with inwardly extending flanges 110 having their edge regionsspaced to accommodate the ratchet construction |84 and to therebymaintain the ratchet construction aligned with the pawl constructionr'86. That vmating' lever sections adjacentthefflanges 110 are providedwith outwardly projecting ears or tabs 1:11, shown in FIGURES 5 and 6which are spotA welded together to lend rigidity `tothelever'construction; f' f Vbrake vrele-ase position.V Thislarrangement includes dual elements, arms or members :1.12 and #114fashioned with camsurfaces or abutment means for controlling theposition yof the ratchet member or sector 84.

p As particularly illustrated in FIGURE 8, each of the arms 1i12and 114is provided with an opening 116 to Y accommodate the shaft or fulcrum`64 of the lever, the

shaft also supporting the arms 1x12' and I114 forrelative pivotal Vorjournalmoveme-nt about the axis of the shaft or pin .64. The arms 1312and 114 are arranged in contiguous relationrand are aligned with the twocomponents of the ratchet sector'or member 84.

The arm y11.2 has a generally circular end region with a curved surface*11:18. 'and a secondV curvedsurface 120,

the latter being of lesser radius than the radius of the curved surface118, both surfaces being generated about the axis of the circularopening 116. A transition surface 1122 joins the two curved surfacesy11118 and 1220, these surfaces `forming cam me'ans.

'llhe arm 114 likewise has a generally circular end region including Jacurved surface 1124, .a second curved surface 1?26 of lesser radius, anda transition surface 11128 joining the curved surfaces 124 and 126, thelatter surfaces being generated about the axis of the 'circular `opening`116. `It should be noted that the curved surface or abutment 118 of arm1112 is at the flower portion of fthe arm while the corresponding curvedsurface or abutment 1&24 of the same radius Ias the surface 1118 is atthe upper portion of the arm 1114. The arm 1112, at its opposite end, isicongurated with fa curved portion 1.30 fashioned with a curved slot132, and the end of the arm 1114 configurated with an oppositely curvedportion 134 provided with a curved slot 1136 of curvature opposite thecurvature of the slot 132.

As particularly shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the bracket component 50 isfashioned with a raised or boss-like portion 140 having an opening toaccommodate a tenon portion y1142 of a stub shaft or rivet 144, aportion 145 of the rivet being swaged as shown in FIGURE 7 to secure therivet to the raised portion 140. The rivet 140 provides a pivotalsupport for a manipulating means or release means for controlling therelative positions of arms 111'2 and *114 and hence the relativeposition of the ratchet member 84.

The control or manipulating means in the embodiment illustrated is inthe form of a generally L-shaped lever 148, a stub shaft 144 extendingthrough an opening in the lever and providing a pivotal support orfulcrum therefor. A ycoil spring 147 is disposed between a head l148 ofthe rivet or stub shaft 1144 and the release means or supplemental lever148 as shown in FIGURE 7. One end 149 of the spring 147 engages the padportion 58 of the support bracket, as shown in FIGURE 6, the oppositeend '150 of the spring being hooked over the edge of the manipulatinglever 148.

The spring 147 is tensioned to bias the supplemental lever y148 formovement in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 5. Anintermediate region of the lever :1148 is provided with an openingreceiving a tenon portion 152 of a rivet or stub shaft 154, the tenonterminating in a swaged head portion 155 fixedly securing the rivet y154to the release lever `148.

The body portion of the rivet -154 extends through both curved slots 132and 136 formed in the arms 112 and 1'14, the head 156 of the rivet 154securing the curved regions 130 and :134 of the arms in contiguousrelation but with suiicient clearance to permit relative slidablemovement of the arms under the influence of swinging movements of therelease lever '148. The lever 148 is provided with a handle or gripportion 160 which may be fashioned of molded plastic or the like.

Means is provided for cushioning the impact of the lever construction162 upon its return to brake release position. The bracket construction46 is equipped with a stub shaft 164 which supports acylindrically-shaped cushion member l166 of semi-hard rubber or otheryieldable nonmetallic material. As particularly shown in FIGURE 5, themetal sections forming the lever construction 62 are fashioned withinwardly extending anges 168 of a curvature to t the exterior curvatureof the cushion member i166. Upon return movement of the lever 62 tobrake release position, the lever flanges 163 engage the cushion member'166 and thereby absorb the impact or shock.

With'particular reference to IFIGURES 2 and 4 it will by themanipulating lever '1418, traverses the curved slots 132 and 136 in thearms 112 and L14, moving the arms to positions wherein the raised curvedportions or abutments 118 and 1124 are in overlapping relation, theoverlapping regions supporting the ratchet sector 84 in its uppermost oroperative position by engagement of the projection `94 of the ratchetmember with the overlapping portions.

The ratchet member `84 is thereby supported in its elevated position sothat the teeth 92 thereof are in the path of movement of the pawl 86during movement of the lever 62 toward brake-setting position.

The operation ofthe arrangement of .the invention is as follows: Thebrake lever construction 62 is shown in brake release position inFIGURES l, 2 and 5. In this position, the arms 112 .and 114 are held bythe manipulating `lever 148 lin a position whereby the cam surfaces orabutments 118 and 124 engage the projection 94 on the sector member 84holding the sector in its pawl engaging or operative position. With thelever construction 62 in release position, the pawl member 86 is out ofengagement with the teeth 92 of the sector member.-

When the operator desires to set the emergency or parking brakes of thevehicle, foot pressure is applied upon the foot pad 73 swinging the mainfoot-operated lever 62 about its fulcrurn l64 in a clockwise direction,as .viewed in FIGURES l and 2. During thi-s movement `of t-he lever 62to brake-setting position, the ratchet sector '84 is held in itselevated or operative position and the pawl `86 rides over the teeth 92of the sector member 84, the pawl being biased toward engagement withthe teeth under the inliuence of the spring 106.

Movement of the lfoot-operated lever 62 toward brakesetting positionexerts upward pull upon the brake cable 4l) to set the emergency orparking brakes. When the brakes have been set, the foot-'operated mainlever 62 is held in brake-setting position by engagement of the tooth16S of the pawl 86 engaging one of the ratchet teeth 92 in the ratchetmember 84. As the ratchet member 84 is supported in its operative orbrake retaining position by the yabutments 118 and 124, theinterengagement of pawl `86 4an-d ratchet member 84 holds the brakes inset position.

When the vehicle operator desires to release the emergency or parkingbrakes, the grip lmember 160, carried by the release member 1148, isgrasped and lifted upwardly to swing t-he release member about itspivotal support 144. The swinging movement of the manipulating orrelease means A148, in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURESl, 2, 4 and 5 cause the pin 154 to traverse the curved slots 132 and 136in the cam elements or arms 1112 and 1214. This .action causes the arm112 to swing upwardly or in a counterclockwise direction about the pivotshaft 64, and the Iarm 1-14 to swing downwardly or in .a clockwisedirection about the pivot sha-ft 64 until the arms are in the positionsillustrated in FIGURE 5.

Y During the opposite swinging or pivotal movements of the arms 1112 and114, the raised surfaces or curved cam surfaces 1118 and 124 move .awayfrom the projection 94, permitting the projection 94 to ride on thetransition surfaces 122 and 128 whereby the projection engages thecurved cam surfaces and 126 of lesser radii whereby the projection 94rests upon these surfaces when the a-rms 1,12 and 1'14 are in releasepositions shown in FIGURE 5.

This action permits the ratchet or sector member 84 to swing downwardlyby gravity in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 5, and out ofthe path of the pawl tooth 108 of the pawl 86.

The movement .of the pawl 86 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewedin FIGURE 5, is limited by engagement `of the projection 108 of the pawlwith the upper edge region 109 of the lever construction 62 so that thesector teeth 92 Iare free of engagement with the pawl 86. Under thetension of the conventional brake springs exerting a downward pull onthe brake cable 40, the lever construction 62 is returned to brakerelease posi-tion'7 shownv in FIGURES y1, 2 and 5.

Y 'The operator releases `the grip 160 on .the release member or lever148 which, under the influence of the spring 1-47, is swung in a,clockwise direction a-s viewed in FlG- URES 1li-and 5, causing the pin`1S4Vt o tra-verse `the slots v1312 and'1'36 .and thereby return Vthe112 and` 114 to the relative positions illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2.and4.y i .M f

vDuring this ymovement ott' the arms, the transition surfaces 122 and128 yapproach each other and overlap one another, moving the projection94 and the sector S4 upwardly whereby the abutment surfaces 118Y andV.124 engage and .support .the scot-or 8'4 Vin a position to be engagedby .the pawl tooth 108 during V,subsequent movement .of thefoot-operated mainflever `62 toward br-akesetting position. The impactof return'movement ofkthe lever 62 .to its initial or .brake releaseposition -s absorbed by engagement off the lever anges 168 with Vthecushion member 166. f 'y From .the foregoing vit will be seen that thesector 84 is positively held in .asupported or pawly engagingpositionvby theoverlapping abutment sur-faces 11'8 land 124, but iseffectively released by movements of the abutment sur-faces .in oppositedirections under .the inuence of movement of the manipula-ting orreleasemember 148 toward brake release posi-tion. Throughl thisarrangement .of supporting the projection 194 of .the sector mem- [berby overlapping cam vsurfaces, .there are no pressures or'zforcestransmitted through `the sector member tending to rotate the arms 1i12and 1|14so that the sector is positively held in pawl .engaging positionand is easily released because the abutments :are rotatably supportedand the 8 ratchet teeth, a pawl member, one o f said members beingarticulately mounted on the support and the other articulately mountedon the lever, said pawl and ratchet members being engageabletorretaining the parking brakes in Aset position, a pair of elementsjournally mounted on the'v support for rotation Yin opposite directionsrelative Vto each other and having camr surfaces adaptedv to engage and.position one of said members for interengagement with the other of saidmembers,l and meansconnected with said elements operable for rotatingsaid elements in opposite directions to alpositionto effectdisengagementof -said membersto release Vthe parking brakes.

`4. Mechanism control` of the character disclosed, in combination, asupport, a foot-operated lever fulcrumed onthe support adapted toactuate the parking brakes of a vehicle, a ratchet member formed withratchet teeth, a pawl member, said ratcheltmember being articulatelymounted on the support, said pawl member being pivotal-ly mounted on thelever, said pawl and ratchet members being engageableA for retainingtheparking brakes in set position, a pair of arms journaledion thesupport for rota- Y tion relativey to each other,V said` arms having camsurfaces to engage and position said ratchet member 'forinterengagementV with thepawly member, and actuating` means engagingsaid arms for concomitantly moving said arms to a positiony to effectdisengagemenit'of said ratchet Y member from the pawl member to releasethe parking force vnecessary .to move the arms y1112 and 114 is greatlyreduced because .of the dist-ance .ot the slots 132. and 136 from.thesupporting shaft 64 and the mechanical adv.an'

tage of the release lever .148*- f Y It Iis apparent that, Within thescope of the invention, modifications and diierent .arrangements may beymade other than as hereindisclosed, and the present disclosure isillustrative merely, the invent-ion comprehending all variationsthereof. A

Iclaim:

=1. Mechanism control ofv .the character disclosed, in combination,a'support, a mainfoot-operated lever Yfulcrumed on the support,a'm-emlber .formed with-ratchet teeth, .a pawl member, one of saidmembers being'articulately mounted on the support .and the otherarticulately mounted .on the lever, `a pair of arms j'ourn-ally mountedon the lsupport for rotative movement relative to each' other an-dhaving abutment surfaces .arranged Vto engage and support one off saidmembers' lin position to, be engaged by theother of said members,andrmeans engaging said arms arranged to eectrotative movement yofV saidarms in opposite directions and relative tol said members to move the.abutment surfaces away from member-supporting position to eiectdisengagement of said members.r

2. Mechanism.' control of Ithe character disclosed,`inl

combinatioma support, a main foot-operated lever-fulcrumed on thesupport, a member'kformed with ratchet teeth, a pawl member, saidrratchet member being artcu#y lately mounted on [the support,rsaid pawlmember being articulately mounted on the lever, apair of cam elementsjournally mounted on the support rotatable in opposite directions toaposition toy engage and support said ratchet member ina position to beengaged by the pawl member, and actuating means connected with said camelements for rotatingA the camelements in .opposite directions andrelative to said members to'ay position to effect disengagement of saidratchet member from the pawl member; 7 Y f 3. Mechanism control ofl thecharacter disclosed,v in

combination, a support, a foot-operated lever .fulcrumed Y 'on thesupport connected withy and adapted to actua-te the parking brakes of avehicle, a member formed with brakes.

5. Mechanism control of the character disclosed, in combination,"asupport, a lever pivotally mounted on the support adapted Ito actuatethe parking brakes of a vehicle; av ratchet member; formed vwith ratchetteeth, a pawl member, one of said members being articulately mounted onthe support and the otheranticulately mounted on the lever, said pawland ratchet members being engageable for retaining the parking brakes inset position, an arm journaled on thel support having an abut-V'mentsurtace adapted to engage andl position one of said members forengagement with the other ofy said members,

an actuating element for said arm pivotally mounted on the support on anaxis spaced from the axis of the arm,

' and pin and slot means connecting said arm and said actuating elementwhereby pivotalmovement of said yactuating elementpin oneV directionmoves the abutment to a position to effect disengagement of saidmembers.

6. Mechanism control of the character. disclosed, in combination, asupport, a foot-operated lever fulcrumed on the support and adapted tobe connected withv the parking brakesof a vehicle` for actuating ythebrakes, a ratchet member formed with ratchet teeth, a pawl member, oneofv said members being articulately mounted on the support and the otherarticulately mounted-,on the lever, said pawl andr ratchet members beingengageable for retaining the parking, brakes in set position, anv armjournaled on the support having a cam `'surface' adapted in one positionto supportone ofsaidmembers for engagement with the other of saidmembers, an actuatingY element pivotallymounted on thev support on anaxis spaced from Vthe axis of said arm, pin and slot means connectingsaid armcand said' element whereby pivotall movement of'V saidactuating, element rotates the varm to a position toY effectdisengagement rof'said members, and resilient 'means biasing the arm toaposition to effect interengagement of said members.

7. Mechanism controlY of the character disclosed, in

crumed. on the support, a member formed with ratchet y teeth movablymounted upon. the support, a pawl pivotally mounted on the main lever, apair of arms journally mounted on the support for rotation relative toeach other about a commonV axis, abutment means on said arms adaptedwhen vthe arms are in one position of relative rotation to support theratchet member in a position to' engaged by the pawl, Vsaid arms beingrotatablev in opposite directions to a position whereby the abutmentmeans are disengaged from the ratchet member to permit movement thereofout of engaging relation with the pawl.

f8. Mechanism control of the character disclosed, in combination, asupport, a main foot-operated lever fulcrumed on the support, a memberformed with ratchet teeth niovabiy mounted upon the support, a pawlpivotally mounted on the main lever, resilient means normally biasingthe pawl into engagement with the teeth of the member, a pair of armsjournally mounted on the support for rotation relative to each otherabout a common axis, abutment means on said arms adapted when the armsare rotated to one position to support the ratchet member in a positionto be engaged by the pawl, said arms being rotatable relative to eachother to a position whereby [the abutment means are `disengaged from theratchet member to permit movement thereof out of engagement with thepawl, each of said arms being formed with a curved surface, and amovable actuating member having means engaged with the curved surfacesfor efecting rotation of the arms.

9. Mechanism control of the character disclosed, in combination, asupport, a main foot-operated lever fulcrumed on the support, a memberformed with ratchet teeth movably mounted upon the support, a pawlpivotally mounted on the main lever, resilient means normally biasingthe pawl into engagement with the teeth of the member, a pair of arms,journal means carried by the support upon which said arms are mountedfor rotation relative to each other, cam surfaces formed on said armsarranged to support the ratchet member in a position to be engaged bythe pawl, said arms being rotatable to a position whereby the camsurfaces permit disenagagement of the ratchet member from the pawl, eachof said arms being formed with a slot, and a manipulating member havingmeans engaged in each slot for rotating said arms.

it?. Mechanism control of the character disclosed, in combination, asupport, a main foot-operated lever, means carried by the supportproviding a fulcrum for said main lever, a member formed with ratchetteeth movabiy mounted upon the support, a pawl pivotally mounted on themain lever, resilient means normally biasing the pawl into engagementwith the teeth of the member, a pair of arms journally mounted upon thefulcrurn means for rotation relative to each other, cam surfaces formedon said arms arranged to support the ratchet member in a position to beengaged bythe pawl, said arms being rotatable in opposite directions toa position whereby the cam sur-faces permit disengagement of the ratchetmember from the pawl, each of said arms being formed with ia slot, amanipulating lever having means engaged in each slot for actuating saidarms, and resilient means biasing said arms to the ratchet membersupporting position.

11. Mechanism for controlling the parking brakes of a vehicle including,in combination, a support, a main foot-operated lever, a shaft carriedby the support forming a fulcrum for the level, a member formed withratchet teeth pivotally mounted upon the support, a pawl pivotallymounted on the main lever, a pair of arms journally mounted on the shaftforming the fulcrum for the footoperated lever, each of said arms beingformed with an abutment, said arms being rotatable in oppositedirections relative to each other to a position whereby the abutmentssupport the ratchet member in a position to be engaged by the pawl andto a position to effect disengagement of the ratchet member with thepawl, each of said arms being formed with a curved slot, and anactuating member articulately mounted on the support and having a pinengaged in the slot in each arm for effecting relative rotation of thearms.

i2. Mechanism for controlling the parking brakes of a vehicle including,in combination, a support, a main foot-operated lever, a shaft carriedby the support forming a fulcrum for the lever, a member formed withratchet teeth pivotally mounted upon the support, a pawl pivotallymounted on the main lever, resilient means normally biasing the pawlinto a position for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet member, apair of arms journaliy mounted on the shaft forming the fulcrum for thefoot-operated lever, each of said arms being formed with curved surfacesof diierent radii generated about the journal axis thereof, the curvedsurfaces on each arm being joined by a transition surface, said armsbeing rotatable in opposite directions relative to each other to aposition whereby the curved surfaces of the greater radii support theratchet member in a position to be engaged by the pawl and to a positionwhereby the ratchet member engages the curved `surfaces of lesser radiiand out of the path of movement of the pawl, and actuating memberoperatively engaged to said arms for effecting relative rotation of thearms in opposite directions, and resilient means normally biasing saidarms to a position supporting the ratchet member in the path of movementof the pawl,

13. Mechanism for controlling the parking brakes of a vehicle including,in combination, a support, a main foot-operated lever, a shaft carriedby the support forming a fulcrum for the lever, a member formed withratchet teeth pivotally mounted upon the support, a pawl pivotallymounted on the main lever, resilient means normally biasing the pawlinto a position for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet member, apair of arms journally mounted on the shaft forming the fulcrum for thefootoperated lever, each of said arms being formed with curved surfacesof different radii generated about the journal axis thereof, the curvedsurfaces on each arm being joined by a transition surface, said armsbeing rotatable relative to each other whereby the curved surfaces ofthe greater radii support the ratchet member in a position to be engagedby the pawl and to a position whereby the ratchet member engages thecurved surfaces of lesser radii and out of the path of movement of thepawl, each of said arms being formed with a curved slot, an actuatingmember mounted on the support and having a pin engaged in the curvedslot in each of the arms for effecting relative movement of the arms,and resilient means normally biasing said arms to a position supportingthe ratchet member in the path of movement of the pawl.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,908,185 10/59Koskela 74-534 BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. MECHANISM CONTROL OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED, IN COMBINATION, ASUPPORT, A MAIN FOOT-OPERATED LEVER FULCRUMMED ON THE SUPPORT, A MEMBERFORMED WITH RATCHET TEETH, A PAWL MEMBER, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEINGARTICULATELY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT AND THE OTHER ARTICULATELY MOUNTEDON THE LEVER, A PAIR OF ARMS JOURNALLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT FORROTATIVE MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND HAVING ABUTMENT SURFACESARRANGED TO ENGAGE AND SUPPORT ONE OF SAID MEMBERS IN POSITION TO BEENGAGED BY THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS, AND MEANS ENGAGING SAID ARMSARRANGED TO EFFECT ROTATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONSAND RELATIVE TO SAID MEMBERS TO MOVE THE ABUTMENT SURFACES AWAY FROMMEMBER-SUPPORTING POSITION TO EFFECT DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID MEMBERS.